Market Wrap: Metals rally as the rest of the market naps

Some days the market has a clear leader, and today it was metals. A firmer set of global commodity prices lifted steel and aluminium names, and that was enough to keep the index steady even as consumer staples drifted.

The rotation

This is what a rotation looks like: money moving from one corner of the market to another rather than leaving entirely. When cyclicals like metals lead and defensives lag, it usually signals a slightly more optimistic mood about growth.